Marlene VerPlanck is a highly stylized cabaret singer with an incredibly versatile resume.

She's spent time in the studio with Frank Sinatra and Perry Como and has offered her intimate voice and personality to the music of Blood, Sweat and Tears.

But she's probably best known for her work on many popular jingles, including "Mmm-mmm good, mmm-mmm good, that's what Campbell's soups are."

"I really enjoyed doing the jingles," said VerPlanck from her home in New Jersey. "It was a very beautiful part of the business. Those days are gone."

VerPlanck grew up in Newark and started performing in bands led by Charlie Spivak and others. Later, she studied to become a studio musician and performed with everyone from Tony Bennett to Mel Torme.

"I even got to record with KISS," she said with a light chuckle. "It was a very interesting experience."

These days, VerPlanck is focusing on her own songs and music from the Great American Songbook.

She is particularly interested in obscure and neglected nuggets.

"I love the great songbook," said VerPlanck. "There's so much. I just keep finding stuff that I want to record or perform."

What could possibly be wrong performing the time-tested music of Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers or Johnny Mercer?

VerPlanck said she can tell immediately if a song is right for her style.

"I try to get inside each song," she continued. "You have to get into the story. If you can't picture yourself in the song, then it is probably not right for you."

VerPlanck said some of her favorite composers are Jerome Kern, Cole Porter and Don Costa.

"They were the best," she said. "I continue to find stuff that has been neglected."

VerPlanck also likes to record her own music, or songs presented to her by friends.

She cites "The Party Upstairs" as an example of a song given to her by a friend. The song was featured on her last recording, "Now!," and was awarded Best Song of the Year by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs.

"Everyday, I am finding and hearing something that I like a little better than the music that I heard the day before," VerPlanck said. "No one has a better time with music than me."