1971's Best LPs

DEBUSSY: IMAGES, PRELUDE A L'APRESMIDI D'UN FAUNE (DGG); TCHAIKOVSKY: SYMPHONY NO. 1--Winter Dreams (DGG). These sumptuous, adroit performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra show that Michael Tilson Thomas is no longer a superb young conductor--just a superb conductor.

PENDERECKI: THE DEVILS OF LOUDUN (Philips, 2 LPs). Torture and execution of an innocent 17th century French priest, chillingly depicted by the Hieronymus Bosch of contemporary composers.

MASSENET: MANON, 4 LPs; DONIZETTI: LUCIA Dl LAMMERMOOR, 3 LPs (both ABC). When operatic tastes are weighed, the soprano who tips the scales--and the trills and roulades and fioritura--in favor of the French lyric and Italian bel canto repertories is Beverly Sills, here in two exemplary roles.

GEORGE CRUMB: ANCIENT VOICES OF CHILDREN (Nonsuch). Poet Garcia Lorca's grim imagery set to stark, subtly shimmering music by an important new American composer.

WAGNER: DIE MEISTERSINGER (Angel, 5 LPs). Aural splendor engineered by Meister-Conductor Herbert von Karajan.

LEON RUSSELL WITH THE SHELTER PEOPLE (Shelter). A high-water mark in Delta rock, by the noted bayou frog and a virtuosic choir of croakers.

TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN (A & M). Love songs and ecology blend happily in the song bag of British Bard Cat Stevens.

CONCERT FOR BANGLA DESH (Apple, 3 LPs). The indoor Woodstock of 1971: Bob Dylan, Leon Russell, George Harrison and Ravi Shankar together and live at New York's Madison Square Garden.

MWANDISHI (Warner Brothers). Miles Davis Protege Herbie Hancock shows what jazz might have sounded like if it had come up the river from Darmstadt, that European mecca of the avantgarde, instead of New Orleans.

WHAT'S GOIN' ON (Tamla). A melodically deft song cycle by soul crooner Marvin Gaye that praises God, blesses peace and swings till kingdom come.

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