Active menu background color

user1522624

I have a vertical menu. It is .glossymenu . The menu item is accessed using css as .glossymenu a.menuitem . I want to change the background color when the menu item is selected or when the menu item is active. I am trying to use the following JQuery:

$(".glossymenu a.menuitem").click(function(){
  $(this).siblings(".active").removeClass("active");
  $(this).addClass("active");
});

But, I am unable to resolve my issue using this. Any ideas, how to change the background color of the menu item, when it is selected. It should not change when we click outside the menu item in blank area, when the menu is active.
Thanks,
Prasad